Four Named to All-MWC Basketball Team

Release Date: March 1, 2001

No Fighting Scot made the first team of the recently released All-MWC men’s and women’s basketball squads, but a total of four Monmouth players earned second team or honorable mention selections.

Sophomore Melissa Jones (Port Byron, IL/United Township) was the first player listed on the women’s second team (11th overall) after averaging 14.2 points and 6.8 rebounds for Monmouth’s full 22-game season. Jones was part of a 13-player MWC first team as a freshman.

"Melissa, of course, is our main inside threat," said her coach, Dennis Mann. "I thought she had a much better year this than last year both offensively and defensively. She had to go through that ‘sophomore thing’ this season. As a freshman, you can come in and no one knows who you are, but this year, teams were just all over her."

Senior Amber Kuhrts (Toulon, IL/Stark County) also landed a spot on the second team. She averaged 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds, and the latter number especially impressed Mann.

"I’m really pleased she got this award," he said. "She really increased her rebounding stats, and I think this was the best season she had at Monmouth, in terms of her all-around game. She did a lot of good things for us."

On the men’s side, guard Steve Glasgow (Galesburg, IL/HS) was picked to the second team after averaging 13.4 ppg and 3.9 rpg. He also had 71 assists in 20 games and shot 83.7 from the foul line. The honor marked the third straight year Glasgow has been an All-MWC pick.

"I feel awfully good for Steve. It’s a compliment to him" said his coach and father, Terry Glasgow. "But Steve would tell you he didn’t have the kind of year he wanted to have."

Junior forward Kenny Spranger (Moline, IL/HS) received honorable mention after averaging team-highs of 16.6 points and 6.4 rebounds. He also led the Scots in blocks (17) and field goal percentage (56.3).

"Kenny’s disadvantage was that he wasn’t well-known in the league," said Glasgow. "Kenny’s a tremendous player. If he comes in next year and rebounds and plays defense and we have a successful year, he may well be the Player of the Year. I wouldn’t hesitate to put him up for that."

Glasgow also nominated junior forward Jeff Stenoish (Peoria, IL/Notre Dame), a second-team All-MWC pick a year ago. Stenoish averaged 13.8 points and 4.9 rebounds while leading the team in steals with 31.

"He played with some real difficult circumstances," said Glasgow. "He had a bad back and bad legs, and he played in pain in every game, which is going to effect your shooting.

"Any one of the other kids was as deserving as Steve to earn a second team spot."

The men’s first team included Player of the Year Henry Grant of Beloit, while Grinnell’s Dave Arseneault was named Coach of the Year. Lake Forest’s Alison Grubbs and Jackie Slaats earned Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively, on the women’s side.

Men's Basketball | Women's Basketball